You won't find these growing in the dirt! These Kartoshka Chocolate Cake Truffles (Potato Pirozhnoye) are not naturally grown truffles, but they are still some wonderfully tasty little nuggets.

Who remembers chocolate salami? It’s one of those desserts where the name doesn’t directly relate to the actual dessert but makes sense with an explanation! This Kartoshka is similar to that. So let me explain, folks, no need to be shocked.
As a kid, neither name made sense to me at first. The chocolate salami dessert is called a salami only in name because of its shape and appearance. It is made in a long tubule and cut into slices for serving, similar to cutting a salami sausage. There are no actual salami products in it. Just as this dessert is not made with potato. 😀
Now my own children grapple with this same idea. Similarly, this dessert is called a kartoshka, or potato, only in name. It is hard for them to comprehend what the name has to do with actual dessert, other than it kind of looks like a potato. It sure does take some reassurance every time I make it that it's not made out of potatoes.
I absolutely loved, loved these potato-looking delicious treats and of course still enjoy them very much. Kartoshka has always been one of the most popular desserts in Ukraine, just like the chocolate salami. It is super simple to make but tastes so good it makes your taste buds dance! No, truly!
What is Special about this Kartoshka Recipe
This recipe is very close to or just about the same as I remember it from childhood. It sure brings a lot of sweet childhood memories, let me know if this jogs up your memories. These soft and delicate truffles made of lightly cooked condensed milk, mixed well in butter is what holds other yummy ingredients together: toasted and crushed pecans, lots of cocoa, and vanilla make them taste irresistible! Include this in your upcoming Mother's Day, and you most likely won't fail to surprise and impress her! Enjoy! 🙂
Table of Contents
Kartoshka Chocolate Cake Truffles Ingredients
- White cake sponges
- Organic unsalted butter
- Lightly cooked condensed milk
- Cacao or cocoa powder
- Pecans
- Sea salt
- Pure vanilla extract

Kartoshka Chocolate Cake Truffles Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F. Make the sponge cakes. Beat 8 eggs and 1 cup of sugar for 5 minutes or until fluffy and pale yellow in color. Sift in 2 cups of flour in two additions. Mix in the flour carefully not to deflate too many air bubbles.

Divide batter equally between 2 – 9” pans greased with butter. Bake in the oven at 350 F oven for 18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the cake sponges cool completely (I make the sponge cakes and cook condensed milk the night before making kartoshka).

Crush sponge cakes in the food processor ½ sponge at a time.

Transfer the crumbs onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.

Bake/toast crumbs for 15 minutes in preheated oven to 350 F (180 C). Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.

Crush pecans in the food processor.

Transfer to a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake/toast for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.

How to Assemble Kartoshka
Cream softened butter on high for 5 minutes using a pedal mixer attachment. Add lightly cooked condensed milk and beat it together for 2 minutes, scrape the sides of the mixer bowl, and beat it again for a minute or so.

Add cake crumbs, pecan crumbs, cocoa powder, and salt into a mixer bowl with cream. Using the pedal attachment mix all of the ingredients on low for 30 seconds. Add vanilla extract and mix for another minute or until all is combined. Using an ice cream scoop (the amount of mixture is roughly ¼ of a cup), scoop the cake mixture roll it into a ball, then into an oval shape.

Place shaped kartoshka onto a platter.

Dust with cocoa powder, then transfer into mini cupcake liners. Store it in a container covered with a lid.

NOTE: I like kartoshka firm in texture. If you prefer a bit softer texture, let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes before serving.

If you make this Kartoshka Chocolate Cake Truffles (Potato Pirozhnoye) Recipe, please share a picture with me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest. Tag with #valyastasteofhome. I’d love to see your creations!

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Recipe Card
Kartoshka Chocolate Cake Truffles (Potato Pirozhnoye)
Ingredients
Kartoshka Chocolate Cake Truffles Ingredients
- 2 – 9” – white sponge cakes
- 8 oz. ((226 g) – unsalted butter softened
- 14 oz. ((396 g) – lightly cooked condensed milk
- 4 tbsp. – cocoa powder + 2 tbsp. for dusting
- 1 cup – pecans
- ⅛ tsp. – sea salt
- 2 tsp. – pure vanilla extract
Instructions
Kartoshka Chocolate Cake Truffles Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F. Make the sponge cakes. Beat 8 eggs and 1 cup of sugar for 5 minutes or until fluffy and pale yellow in color. Sift in 2 cups of flour two additions. Mix in the flour carefully not to deflate too many air bubbles.
- Divide batter equally between 2 – 9” pans greased with butter. Bake in the oven at 350 F oven for 18 minutes or until light golden brown. Remove from the oven and let the cake sponges cool completely (I make the sponge cakes and cook condensed milk the night before making kartoshka).
- Crush sponge cakes in the food processer½ sponge at a time.
- Transfer the crumbs onto a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake/toast crumbs for 15 minutes in preheated oven to 350 F (180 C). Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
- Crush pecans in the food processor.
- Transfer to a small baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake/toast for 7 minutes. Remove from the oven and let it cool completely.
Assembling Kartoshka Truffles
- Cream softened butter on high for 5 minutes using pedal mixer attachment. Add lightly cooked condensed milk and beat it together for 2 minutes, s scrape the sides of the mixer bowl and beat it again for a minute or so.
- Add cake crumbs, pecan crumbs, cocoa powder, salt into a mixer bowl with a cream. Using pedal attachment mix all of the ingredients on low for 30 seconds. Add vanilla extract and mix for another minute or until all combined. Using ice cream scoop (the amount of mixture is roughly ¼ of a cup), scoop the cake mixture roll it into a ball, then into an oval shape.
- Place shaped kartoshka onto a platter.
- Dust with cocoa powder, then transfer into mini cupcake liners. Store it in the container covered with a lid.
Notes
Kitchen items I used in making this recipe:
(If you need any of these items, simply click on the picture to order. This post may contain affiliate links that won't change your price but will share some commission.)
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monika says
I am really enjoying the design and layout of your post. It is very easy on the eyes which makes it all the more pleasant for me to come here and visit more often.
Valya's Taste of Home says
Thank you for the kind words!
christina says
Can you explain how to cook the condensed milk? I don't see any instructions for that.
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
No, there is no instruction on how to cook condensed milk in the post. I get this question a lot. I may have to make a separate post on it.
christina says
Can you clarify the unit of measurement you're using when you say "one sugar"?
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
I'm sorry, I don't understand your question. I just checked, and all the measurements are correct in the recipe card. Can you please clarify your question a bit more? Thank you!
christina says
In two different places it says "beat 8 eggs and 1 sugar for 5 minutes." How much is 1 sugar? Is it 1 tablespoon, 1 cup, etc?
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
I'm so sorry! It's one cup of sugar and it's corrected now. Thank you for noticing the error.
christina says
Ok, thank you for the clarification! I look forward to making this recipe : )
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Enjoy!
Roxanne says
Would they taste fine if I used precooked sweetened condensed milk, from the store? Or does it have to be lightly cooked?
Valya of Valya's Taste of Home says
Precooked condensed milk is much thicker in consistency and you will have hard time mixing it in with the sponge cake. I hope this helps.
Lena says
Hi Valya! How long do you cook condensed milk?
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
I cooked it in the water on the stove top for 1.5 hours.
Olga says
Thanks for sharing this recipe.sure looks good,I'm going to try to make it. Thanks for sharing recipes,May God bless u.☺??
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
You are very welcome! Enjoy! Blessings to you as well! 🙂
Nadia says
I absolutely love them! They look so beautiful! I will be making them soon. Thank you so much for the recipe!
www.valyastasteofhome.com says
Thank you! They are truly delicious little gems! Let me know how they turn out for you. 🙂